MUSIC EVERYWHERE The Downtown Berkeley MusicFest kicks off tonight and runs for four days, involving over 35 performances at ten downtown venues, including Bec’s, Bobby G’s, Jupiter, the Jazzschool, Shattuck Down Low, and Subterranean Arthouse. It’s the fifth MusicFest, which is organized jointly by the Downtown Berkeley Association and the Freight & Salvage Cofeehouse. There’s music for all tastes, from salsa to skronk, world to blues, jazz, rock, R&B and reggae. The free kick-off concert tonight features fiddler/dancer Laura Cortese and a funky-jazz set from the Mike Sweetland quartet outside the Downtown Berkeley BART station from 5-7pm. More information on the MusicFest’s website. (more…)

Students who manage Berkeley High School’s student newspaper, the Berkeley High Jacket, which is marking its 100th anniversary this year, say the publication is in crisis after the school withdrew part of its support.

Berkeley Unified School District has named Javetta Cleveland and Neil Smith, both BUSD staff, as joint interim superintendents for an unspecified period of time until someone is found to fill the shoes of former superintendent Bill Huyett who has retired.